Week Zero contests highlight football kickoff

The high school football season kicks off for the vast majority of Westmoreland County teams this Friday, as nearly every school in the area will play a Week Zero contest. Will depending WPIAL and PIAA Class 3A champion Belle Vernon Area will utilize a second scrimmage, marquee showdowns on Friday include Greensburg Salem at Hempfield Area, Derry Area at Greater Latrobe, Mount Pleasant Area at Greensburg Central Catholic, Jeannette at Burrell, Thomas Jefferson at Franklin Regional, Canon-McMillan at Penn-Trafford, and Norwin at Upper St. Clair. While the Week Zero contests will register in the teams’ records, it will not impact playoff seedings.

Greater Latrobe’s Bulava out for season

Greater Latrobe girls soccer standout Ella Bulava will miss the upcoming campaign due to injury. Bulava, a senior who is committed to the University of Maryland, sustained a torn ACL over the summer. Bulava garnered All-WPIAL and All-State accolades with the Wildcats, scoring seven goals a year ago. She was instrumental in Greater Latrobe’s run to the WPIAL Class 3A semifinals in 2022.

SHU volleyball selected sixth in PSAC

Seton Hill University women’s volleyball was tabbed sixth in the PSAC West in the preseason poll released last week. The Griffins slotted behind first-place Gannon, Clarion, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Edinboro, and Slippery Rock. Pitt-Johnstown, California University of Pennsylvania, and Mercyhurst round out the West. East Stroudsburg headlines the poll in the East. The Griffins, who went 17-12 overall and 6-10 in the PSAC last year, open the 2023 campaign against Bentley at the Nova Southeastern Tournament in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Pitt-Greensburg WSOC tops preseason poll

On the heels of a championship season, the University of Pitt-Greensburg women’s soccer squad headlined the preseason poll in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC). The Bobcats topped the 10-team rankings released on Monday, directly ahead of Penn State Behrend and Penn State Altoona. Additionally, UPG sophomore forward Megan Hickey was tabbed as the AMCC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while Bobcats senior defender Nylah Pannebaker was selected as the Defensive Player of the Year. A year ago, Pitt-Greensburg went 16-4-1 overall, including a perfect 7-0 in conference play, capturing the second AMCC crown in program history.